leer1

 
Pronunciation: /lɪə/

verb

[no object]
  • look or gaze in a lascivious or unpleasant way: bystanders were leering at the nude painting (as adjective leering) every leering eye in the room was on her

noun

  • a lascivious or unpleasant look: he gave me a sly leer

Derivatives

leeringly

adverb

Origin:

mid 16th century (in the general sense 'look sideways or askance'): perhaps from obsolete leer 'cheek', from Old English hlēor, as though the sense were 'to glance over one's cheek'